Oprah’s Recession Friendly Holiday Show

Possibly the only time I DVR Oprah is the annual favorite things show. Each year, Oprah carts in luxurious gifts and orchestrates extravagant give-aways. Who benefits? Those lucky dogs who got seats for the show and the advertisers who bank on the oh-so-easily-swayed general public to rush out and buy Oprah’s favorite things!

I am no fan of Oprah. She comes off as a bit preachy, but I did enjoy this year’s scaled back show. I can drool over those items I cannot afford to buy or even dream of receiving in the latest InStyle Magazine! Apparently, my reaction was not had by all. I turn on the radio this morning for my morning commute (iPod low on charge) and hear Kidd Kraddick and crew discuss how disappointing they found Oprah’s Favorite Things 2008 show and how disappointed the show’s audience must be. People want stuff! Extravagant and outrageous buys! Not gratitude boxes, gift swaps or charity giving!

Disgusting.

If anyone is bummed over this year’s show it was the advertisers working all year long to make the show’s cut.

So, I ask you…we all have a voice in the community. The blogosphere makes us all publishers, some of us with as much influence as Oprah! Would you or do you use your voice to market products out of reach of your customers or promote pocketbook-friendly purchases? Is this an ethics question?

I don’t know how to answer this one. My first thought after reading your post and the general reaction was the same as yours: disgusting.
But, if you look at her “Favorite Things” show as an escape, items to dream over, then I’ll bet the show was probably a disappointment. People who are looking for an element of escapism, and maybe not being reminded every minute of every day how awful things are may look forward to a reckless indulgence show. (My hint: turn off the TV. Completely. I’m happier when not constantly bombarded with “the economy it is teh suck” constantly thrown at me!)
That said, she is a thought leader and very aware of her public image. If she’d done another over the top show, with the TV in the fridge type of items, my guess is the outcry would have been huge.
If nothing else, she is a savvy communicator.

About the Author

By day, Lauren 'L' Vargas, Ph.D. is a digital dragon wrangler assisting organizations with their community and communication strategies. She is currently a 'One by One' Digital Fellow at the University of Leicester - delivering a "practical approach to building digital literacies within specific museum contexts" for UK and US museums.

Vargas has 19 years of experience with digital transformation in regulated industry (including: federal government, health care / insurance, and financial services). Vargas enables organizations to engage with the communities they serve by fostering authentic relationships built on trust and dynamic dialogue.